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Harvard isn’t the only thing that’s been inviting people to Cambridge, Massachusetts. This beautiful location in the Boston area is quickly becoming more populated as people are discovering its great real estate. According to Realtor.com, home values in Cambridge are appreciating at a rate of 15% each year. And, these values have been increasing for the last five years. If you’re looking to relocate to the Cambridge area, or if you’re selling your home in the city, you need to hire a great real estate agent....

Whether you have leftover pieces or purchase a few inexpensive sections from the home center, PVC pipes can be repurposed in some pretty useful ways around the house. Here are a few ways to get started. PVC Pipe Uses for Everyday Life: Collect leaves Cut and assemble PVC pipe into a frame, and then clamp a bag around the opening to hold it upright for filling with leaves, or on its side for use as a sort-of dustpan for your rake....

Looking for an easy way to refresh tired rooms and boost the value of your home? Look down. Flooring may not be the first thing you think of when you’re looking for a quick upgrade, but here are 13 projects you can tackle yourself. Add the cushion and durability of eco-friendly cork, or brighten up the room with floor paint. With our help, you can even epoxy-coat your garage floor to repel oil stains or get the warmth of wood with a floating floor....

We have a wraparound staircase in our entryway that creates an awkward nook where we’ve had a coat rack for years. But with the kids growing up, they’re not quite able to reach the hooks. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time I’ve decided to build a custom bench that follows the angle of the staircase and then install hooks so they can make better use of the space for coats and backpacks....

The angle, or pitch, of a roof is calculated by the number of inches it rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally. For example, a roof that rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run has a 6-in-12 pitch. How to Measure Roof Pitch Knowing the pitch of your roof is useful when designing an addition, installing skylights, or cutting new rake boards. Here’s an easy, safe way to determine the pitch from inside your attic....

For this project, we’re teaming up with our friends at Sherwin-Williams® to create an accent wall with not one, but three colors arranged in a fun geometric pattern. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time To choose the colors, I tested out the match a photo feature of the ColorSnap® visualizer app by Sherwin-Williams. It allows me select a photo on my phone and shows me the matching Sherwin-Williams paint color. For this pattern, I’m using a white base and two blue tones....

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to repair a baluster. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Repairing a Baluster Set one-half of busted baluster in routing jig. Use a plunge router to cut a 3/8-inch-diameter by 1 ½-inch-deep dowel hole into the broken end of the baluster. Remove the first half of the baluster from the jig, insert the second half and rout the mating dowel hole....

Steps for Repairing a Built-In: Start by straightening out the chip on the face of the drawer using a block plane. Hold the scrap wood flat against the chip. Use a pencil and mark the wood roughly for the length. To get the depth, slide the board until the pencil mark hits the end of the chipped section and mark the height there as well. Use a straight edge to draw a line from the pencil marks to the corner of the board....

Master electrician Heath Eastman takes us on a house call to solve a homeowner’s doorbell problem. After moving in, the homeowner attempted to fix an old doorbell, only to have it crumble into pieces. Heath uses his expertise to track down the existing wiring and transformer first before running new wiring and installing a new doorbell, chime, and transformer. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Doorbell Replacements Can Be Complicated On the surface, replacing a doorbell might seem like a simple proposition....

Previous episode: S21 E4 | Next episode: S21 E6 In this episode: Host Kevin O’Connor takes us on a house call of historical proportions to talk about wallpaper restoration. When visiting the Franklin Pierce home, Kevin speaks with museum staff about restoring the home, more specifically, the 200-year-old imported wallpaper in one of the rooms. After discussing the origins of the wallpaper, professional paper restoration experts show Kevin the painstaking process that goes into restoring this work of art....

Top 5 Coolers Best For Hiking: TOURIT Cooler Backpack Best Wheeled Cooler: Coleman Portable Cooler With Wheels Best Heavy-Duty Cooler: Coleman 70-Quart Xtreme Heavy-Duty Cooler Most Versatile Cooler: Lifewit Soft Cooler Bag Best For Picnics: OlarHike Cooler Bag Best For Hiking: TOURIT Cooler Backpack The TOURIT Cooler Backpack has a waterproof, durable fabric body with an insulated leakproof liner and padded shoulder straps. These materials work together to keep food warm or cold for up to 16 hours, making this cooler bag perfect for those who need a comfortable, accessible cooler for walks or hikes....

Few, if any, home-improvement projects offer a greater return on investment than garage door replacement. Once again this year, garage door replacements topped the Remodeling 2019 Cost vs. Value Report,* continuing a two-year streak of returning, on average, nearly 100% of the project cost at resale. With options that can enhance any home style and materials that are both durable and energy efficient, the right garage door can be an architectural highlight and prominent design feature....

Simple details and accessories like inspirational quotes and DIY string lights can brighten up a space and help push you to meet your goals. Whether your desk is in a home office or a corporate cubicle, these trendy and modern desk accessories will liven up the room and make work seem like less of a chore. 1. Dry-Erase Calendar This gold-framed calendar will help keep you on track. The dry-erase board allows you to stay updated any month of any year....

How to Maintain Outdoor Fountains Get rid of grime Dirt and debris wear on the fountain’s surface. Once a month, bail out gritty water (or siphon it off with a wet-dry vac). Then, wipe the interior with a soft cloth or sponge, and scrub off any buildup with vinegar and a soft-bristled nylon brush; wipe clean and refill. Put on socks Slip an old nylon stocking over the pump and its intake to keep out stray dirt....

A Producer for This Old House, Alyssa Thompson has a hand in all aspects of creating 26 episodes of television each season, from selecting projects to developing segment ideas to planning and executing shoots. Much of her work focuses on the logistics of pulling a shoot day together. She loves the challenge of lining up all the necessary elements to film a great scene and thinking ahead to eliminate potential issues....

Home security systems are designed to give customers peace of mind when they’re away from home along with other conveniences like smart home integration. Whether you want to keep your home under surveillance with indoor and outdoor security cameras or you’re interested in remotely controlling your smart thermostat and lights, a home security system is an answer. There are a wide variety of home security systems on the market in Tulsa....

Now’s the time to get serious about plugging the cracks, gaps, and crevices that mice use to gain access to your home. Look for Openings Do a sweep of your home’s exterior, and look for openings a mouse could slip through—that means spaces as narrow as 1⁄4 inch. Likely locations include utility entry points, loose-fitting attic or exhaust vents, damaged weatherstripping, and the gaps beneath doors. Related Your Guide to Mice Removal Seal Up Points of Entry Once you’ve identified potential entries, close them up using mouse-proof material....

Previous episode: S41 E16 | Next episode: S41 E18 In this episode: Kevin O’Connor sets the scene in Cape Ann, full of fishing and granite and picturesque harbors. He, Richard Trethewey, Tom Silva, Norm Abram and Jenn Nawada head to the house—a rambling 1890s shingle style that’s in need of a major overhaul. Homeowner Molly gives Kevin a tour of the first floor, where they’ll convert a three-season porch to all-season, expose hardwood floors under the tattered carpet, refinish some of the beautiful historic woodwork and move the kitchen to the center of the home....

Whether you want to circulate fresh, cool air throughout your home or complement existing room décor, a ceiling fan can be an important purchase. That’s why it’s critical to choose a model that’s not only aesthetically pleasing but gets the job done. Our Process A ceiling fan isn’t an easy purchase to make. While fans can help your home become more energy-efficient, we recognize that their high price-point requires a thorough and time-consuming buying experience....

If you want access to filtered water directly from a kitchen or bathroom faucet, the This Old House Reviews Team is here to help. We researched the best under-sink water filters and created a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed purchase. Here are our top water filter recommendations. Top 5 Under-Sink Water Filters Best Filter Life: CuZn Under-Counter Water Filter Most User-Friendly: Filtrete Under-Sink Water Filtration System Best Design: Express Water Under-Sink Filtration System Most Versatile: Waterdrop Under-Sink Water Filter System Best Two-Stage Filter: FRIZZLIFE Under-Sink Water Filter Best Filter Life: CuZn Under-Counter Water Filter Pros and Cons ✔ Designed to attach to your kitchen sink’s cold water line✔ Uses a catalytic carbon filter that’s resistant to mold and bacteria growth✔ Can last up to five years✘ Doesn’t specify if it has an NSF certification✘ Not designed to help with hard water...